Refugee crisis hits 73 million, highest number since the Second World WarAccording to the Global Peace Index, 1 per cent of the world population is made up of refugees or internally displaced persons with wars and armed conflicts as the main culprits. The total cost of the violence represents US$ 14.3 trillion or more than 13 per cent of world GDP. Syria is the world’s most violent and dangerous nation in the world.

Damascus (AsiaNews/Agencies) – The world has not seen so many refugees or internally displaced persons since the end of the Second World War, in 1945, and the numbers are expected to increase, this according to an Australian research centre.About 1 per cent of the global population, or about 73 million people, have been forced to leave their homes amid a spike in armed conflict over the past four years, the Institute for Economics and Peace said in a report it released today. The institute compiles the Global Peace Index.“One in every 130 people on the planet is currently a refugee or displaced and most of that comes out of conflicts in the Middle East,” institute director Steve Killelea noted. The numbers in Syria, where as many as 13 million of its 22 million people are displaced, are “staggering,” he said.The number of people killed in conflict rose to 180,000 in 2014 from 49,000 in 2010; of that number, deaths from terrorism increased by 9 per cent to an estimated 20,000, according to the report.Displaced people and the victims of war and terrorism have also had a devastating impact on the global economy, with a price tag of US$ 14.3 trillion in the past year. This includes the cost of waging war, homicides, internal security services, and violent and sexual crimes. “To put into perspective, it’s 13.4 per cent of global gross domestic product, equivalent to the combined economies of Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom,” Killelea said.The study indicates that Iceland tops the index as the most peaceful country in the world, whilst sectarian, war-torn Syria is the least.Regionally, the Middle East and North Africa are the most violent areas. In 2014, they replaced South Asia as the most dangerous region in the world over the previous year.Shared from AsiaNews IT

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Friday received the Italian delegation of athletes to the upcoming Special Olympics in the US city of Los Angeles. In remarks prepared for the occasion, Pope Francis praised the athletes for their courage and hard work.

He also praised sport in general as a very positive means of self-discovery, that can help those who practice it to open themselves up to others and learn the valuable lessons of teamwork, common effort, and fair play: an effective means of breaking down barriers of mistrust and discrimination, while building friendship and understanding.

“It is my hope,” said Pope Francis,” “that you all might live the upcoming Games in a joyful, passionate, serene manner: have fun,” he told them, “and make friendships with you brothers and sisters from around the world!”

The Fortnight for Freedom: Freedom to Bear Witness will take place from June 21 to July 4, 2015, a time when our liturgical calendar celebrates a series of great martyrs who remained faithful in the face of persecution by political power—St. Thomas More and St. John Fisher, St. John the Baptist, SS. Peter and Paul, and the First Martyrs of the Church of Rome. The theme of this year's Fortnight will focus on the "freedom to bear witness" to the truth of the Gospel.

Saturday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary TimeLectionary: 370

Reading 12 COR 12:1-10

Brothers and sisters:I must boast; not that it is profitable,but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord.I know a man in Christ who, fourteen years ago(whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows),was caught up to the third heaven.And I know that this man(whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows)was caught up into Paradise and heard ineffable things,which no one may utter.About this man I will boast,but about myself I will not boast, except about my weaknesses.Although if I should wish to boast, I would not be foolish,for I would be telling the truth.But I refrain, so that no one may think more of methan what he sees in me or hears from mebecause of the abundance of the revelations.Therefore, that I might not become too elated,a thorn in the flesh was given to me, an angel of Satan,to beat me, to keep me from being too elated.Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it might leave me,but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you,for power is made perfect in weakness.”I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses,in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me.Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults,hardships, persecutions, and constraints,for the sake of Christ;for when I am weak, then I am strong.

Responsorial PsalmPS 34:8-9, 10-11, 12-13

R. (9a) Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.The angel of the LORD encampsaround those who fear him, and delivers them.Taste and see how good the LORD is;blessed the man who takes refuge in him.R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.Fear the LORD, you his holy ones,for nought is lacking to those who fear him.The great grow poor and hungry;but those who seek the LORD want for no good thing.R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.Come, children, hear me;I will teach you the fear of the LORD.Which of you desires life,and takes delight in prosperous days?R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

Alleluia2 COR 8:9

R. Alleluia, alleluia.Jesus Christ became poor although he was rich,so that by his poverty you might become rich.R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GospelMT 6:24-34

Jesus said to his disciples:“No one can serve two masters.He will either hate one and love the other,or be devoted to one and despise the other.You cannot serve God and mammon.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life,what you will eat or drink,or about your body, what you will wear.Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?Look at the birds in the sky;they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns,yet your heavenly Father feeds them.Are not you more important than they?Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span?Why are you anxious about clothes?Learn from the way the wild flowers grow.They do not work or spin.But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendorwas clothed like one of them.If God so clothes the grass of the field,which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow,will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith?So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’All these things the pagans seek.Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.But seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness,and all these things will be given you besides.Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself.Sufficient for a day is its own evil.”

Dates of birth and death unknown. He was the son of Pope Hormisdas who had been married before becoming one of the higher clergy. Silverius entered the service of the Church and was subdeacon at Rome when Pope Agapetus died at Constantinople, 22 April, 536. The Empress Theodora, who favoured the Monophysites sought to bring about the election as pope of the Roman deacon Vigilius who was then at Constantinople and had given her the desired guarantees as to the Monophysites. However, Theodatus, King of the Ostrogoths, who wished to prevent the election of a pope connected with Constantinople, forestalled her, and by his influence the subdeacon Silverius was chosen. The election of a subdeacon as Bishop of Rome was unusual. Consequently, it is easy to understand that, as the author of the first part of the life of Silverius in the "Liber pontificalis" (ed. Duchesne, I, 210) relates, a strong opposition to it appeared among the clergy. This, however, was suppressed by Theodatus so that, finally, after Silverius had been consecrated bishop (probably on 8 June, 536) all the Roman presbyters gave their consent in writing to his elevation. The assertion made by the author just mentioned that Silverius secured the intervention of Theodatus by payment of money is unwarranted, and is to be explained by the writer's hostile opinion of the pope and the Goths. The author of the second part of the life in the "Liber pontificalis" is favourably inclined to Silverius. The pontificate of this pope belongs to an unsettled, disorderly period and he himself fell a victim to the intrigues of the Byzantine Court.

After Silverius had become pope the Empress Theodora sought to win him for the Monophysites. She desired especially to have him enter into communion with the Monophysite Patriarch of Constantinople, Anthimus, who had been excommunicated and deposed by Agapetus, and with Severus of Antioch. However, the pope committed himself to nothing and Theodora now resolved to overthrow him and to gain the papal see for Vigilius. Troublous times befell Rome during the struggle that broke out in Italy between the Ostrogoths and the Byzantines after the death of Amalasuntha, daughter of Theodoric the Great. The Ostrogothic king, Vitiges, who ascended the throne in August, 536, besieged the city. The churches over the catacombs outside of the city were devastated, the graves of the martyrs in the catacombs themselves were broken open and desecrated. In December, 536, the Byzantine general Belisarius garrisoned Rome and was received by the pope in a friendly and courteous manner. Theodora sought to use Belisarius for the carrying out of her plan to depose Silverius and to put in his place the Roman deacon Vigilius, formerly apocrisary at Constantinople, who had now gone to Italy. Antonina, wife of Belisarius, influenced her husband to act as Theodora desired. By means of a forged letter the pope was accused of a treasonable agreement with the Gothic king who was besieging Rome. It was asserted that Silverius had offered the king to leave one of the city gates secretly open so as to permit the Goths to enter. Silverius was consequently arrested in March, 537, roughly stripped of his episcopal dress, given the clothing of a monk and carried off to exile in the East. Vigilius was consecrated Bishop of Rome in his stead.

Silverius was taken to Lycia where he was went to reside at Patara. The Bishop of Patara very soon discovered that the exiled pope was innocent. He journeyed to Constantinople and was able to lay before the Emperor Justinian such proofs of the innocence of the exile that the emperor wrote to Belisarius commanding a new investigation of the matter. Should it turn out that the letter concerning the alleged plot in favour of the Goths was forged, Silverius should be placed once more in possession of the papal see. At the same time the emperor allowed Silverius to return to Italy, and the latter soon entered the country, apparently at Naples. However, Vigilius arranged to take charge of his unlawfully deposed predecessor. He evidently acted in agreement with the Empress Theodora and was aided by Antonina, the wife of Belisarius. Silverius was taken to the Island of Palmaria in the Tyrrhenian Sea and kept their in close confinement. Here he died in consequence of the privations and harsh treatment he endured. The year of his death is unknown, but he probably did not live long after reachingPalmaria. He was buried on the island, according to the testimony of the "Liber pontificalis" on 20 June; his remains were never taken from Palmaria. According to the same witness he was invoked after death by the believers who visited his grave. In later times he was venerated as a saint. The earliest proof of this is given by a list of saints of the eleventh century (Mélanges d'archéologie et d'histoire, 1893, 169). The "Martyrologium" of Peter de Natalibus of the fourteenth century also contains his feast, which is recorded in the present Roman Martyrology on 20 June.

[Editor's note: According to the Liber Pontificalis, Pope St. Silverius was exiled not to Palmaria, but rather to the Island of Palmarola, a much smaller and more desolate island near Ponza, Italy, in the Bay of Naples.]

2. Laudato Si is almost 42,000 words - -- Pope Francis states the goal of the document: “In this Encyclical, I would like to enter into dialogue with all people about our common home” (#3). Papal documents are addressed to the bishops but Pope Francis address his message to all people. The goal of the dialogue: “I urgently appeal, then, for a new dialogue about how we are shaping the future of our planet. We need a conversation that includes everyone, since the environment challenge we are undergoing, and its human roots, concern and affect us all” (#14). Living our vocation to be protectors of God’s handiwork is essential to a life of virtue; it is not an optional or a secondary aspect of our Christian experience” (#217)3. Pope Francis has published two encyclicals: “Lumen Fidei” (“Light of Faith”), released in 2013, and now “Laudato Si’” (“Be Praised”). This is the only social encyclical with a vernacular title (Italian) rather than Latin

4 Table of Contents It consists of six chapters.

CHAPTER ONE – WHAT IS HAPPENING TO OUR COMMON HOMECHAPTER TWO – THE GOSPEL OF CREATIONCHAPTER THREE – THE HUMAN ROOTS OF THE ECOLOGICAL CRISISCHAPTER FOUR – INTEGRAL ECOLOGYCHAPTER FIVE – LINES OF APPROACH AND ACTIONCHAPTER SIX – ECOLOGICAL EDUCATION AND SPIRITUALITY5. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches about creation: "The seventh commandment enjoins respect for the integrity of creation. Animals, like plants and inanimate beings, are by nature destined for the common good of past, present, and future humanity. Use of the mineral, vegetable, and animal resources of the universe cannot be divorced from respect for moral imperatives. Man's dominion over inanimate and other living beings granted by the Creator is not absolute; it is limited by concern for the quality of life of his neighbor, including generations to come; it requires a religious respect for the integrity of creation." (CCC 2415) Pope Francis explicitly designates this encyclical as "now added to the body of the Church’s social teaching."

NOVENA PRAYERS 1.COME HOLY GHOST(Kneel)Come, Holy Ghost, Creator blest, And in our Souls take up Thy rest, Come with Thy grace and heavenly aid To fill the hearts which Thou hast made.V. Send forth Thy Spirit and they shall be created;R. And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth. LET US PRAYO God , who didst teach the hearts of Thy faithful people by sending them the light of the Holy Spirit, grant us by the same Spirit, to have a right judgement in all things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort, through Christ Our Lord, Amen 2. AN ACT OF CONTRITION(Here, O God is my sacrifice, a broken spirit; a heart that is humbled and contrite, thou O God, will never disdain; ps 50:19)My God, I believe in Thee.* I hope in thee .* I love Thee above all things.* With all my Soul,* With all my heart ,* and with all my strength ; * I love Thee because thou are infinitely good * And worthy of being loved * and because I love Thee,* I repent with all my heart * Of having offended Thee; * have mercy on me a sinner. Amen3. FOR THE INTENTIONS OF THE HOLY FATHERTHE OUR FATHEROur Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses , as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen THE HAIL MARYHail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, JESUS , Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen THE GLORY BE TO THE FATHERGlory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy spirit.As it was in the beginning , is now and ever shall be world without end . Amen 4. INVOCATIONS TO OUR LADYWe fly to thy patronage, O Holy Mother of God. Despise not our petitions in our necessities. But ever deliver us from all dangers O glorious and blessed Virgin. Priest : O Mother of Perpetual Succour, thou whose very name inspires confidence.People : Help me, O loving Mother.Pr. : That I may love and serve God with all my heart.Pe. : Help me, O loving motherPr. : That I may never neglect prayerPe. : Help me, O loving Mother.Pr. : In temptations against the holy vitue of purityPe. : Help me, O loving Mother.Pr. : That I may quickly rise again should I have the misfortune to fall into sin.Pe. : Help me, O loving MotherPr. : That I may courageously resist the seductions of the world, evil companions, bad books and films Pe. : Help me, O loving Mother.Pr. : That I may often and devoutly receive the Sacraments and fulfil my Christian duties and the duties of my state.Pe. : Help me, O loving Mother.Pr. : That I may be patient and resigned in all trials and troubles of lifePe. : Help me, O loving Mother.Pr. : In sickness and pain, in poverty and distressPe. : Help me, O loving Mother.Pr. : That I may not delay my conversion from day to dayPe. : Help me, O loving Mother.Pr. : That I may ever love and serve thee and invoke thy assistance Pe. : Help me, O loving Mother.Pr. : That I may be able to lead others to love serve and pray to theePe. : Help me, O loving Mother.Pr. : When death is near and I am about to pass into eternity.Pe. : Help me, O loving Mother.Pr. : To my last hour, to my last breath do thou watch over me.

Pe. : Help me, O loving Mother. Pr. : Pray for us O Mother of Perpetual SuccourPe. : Help me, O loving Mother.LET US PRAY O Almighty and merciful God * Who in order to assist the human race * Has willed the blessed virgin Mary * To become the Mother of Thy only-begotten Son * Grant we beseech Thee * That by her intercession * We may avoid the contagion of sin * And serve Thee with a pure heart * Through the same Christ Our Lord * Amen 5. SUMMARY OF PETITIONS & THANKSGIVINGS 6. NOVENA PRAYERS O Mother of Perpetual Succour * Behold me a miserable sinner at thy feet * I have recourse to thee and put my trust in thee * O Mother of Mercy, have pity upon me * I hear thee called by all * The refuge and the hope of sinners; * be then my refuge and my hope * Succour me for the love of Jesus Christ *; Stretch forth thy hand to me, * a poor sinner, * who recommend and dedicate myself to thee * As thy perpetual servant * I bless and thank God for having in His Mercy given me this confidence in Thee * the pledge , as I believe of my eternal salvation*Alas, too often in past times have I miserably fallen * Because I had not recourse to thee * I know that with thy help I shall conquer * I know that thou will help me * If I recommend myself to thee * But I fear lest in the occasion of failing * I should cease to call upon thee * And so should lose my soul * This then is the grace I seek from thee, * and I beg of thee, as far as I know how and can, * to obtain it for me * namely, in the assaults of hell,* always to have recourse to thee and to say to thee; * O mary help me * Mother of Perpetual Succour, * Suffer me not to lose my God * Amen.Priest : Mother of Perpetual SuccourPeople : Pray for thy Children.Hail Mary.......... (Repeat three times)Holy Mary, * Succour the miserable, help the faint hearted * Cheer those that weep, *Pray for the people ,* be the advocate of the clergy, * Intercede for all devout women, * Let all feel thine aid,* Who implore thy perpetual succour.Priest : Thou has been made for us O Lady, a Refuge.People : A helper in need and tribulation.LET US PRAYO Lord Jesus Christ,* Who hast given us Thy Mother Mary, * Whose wondrous image we venerate, * To our Mother ,* Ever ready to succour us,* grant , we beseech Thee,* That we, who earnestly implore her maternal aid, * May deserve to enjoy perpetually the fruit of thy redemption * Who lives and reigns world without end. Amen.